Feed mechanism for gas producers



Dec. 23, A1930. .1.,v F. ROGERS FEED MEcHANIsM FbR GAS PRODUCERS Filedv Aug. 1, 192'.7

4 Sheets-Sheet l SMOM/w95 Dec. 23, 1930. J. F. ROGERS 1,785,789

FEED MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS Filed Aug. 1, 192'? 4 sheets-sheet 2 John fr Wegens.

Dec. 23, 1930. J. F. ROGERS 1,785,789

FEED MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS 1Filed Aug. l, 1927 4 SheetS-Sheet 5 gwuenfoo e702 n E Pager:

De@ 239 i930. F. ROGERS 1,785,789

FEED MECHANISM FOR GAS PRODUCERS Filed Aug. l, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JwVe/yfar (2b/127 /F fogna-.54

l Jorrit n.' noe-Ens, or CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, AssIGNo'R To Tian WELLMAN ENGL.

Patented Dec. 23,

Y UnireosrArasl PATENT OFFICE f' NiinmNe COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, omo, A conropRArIoN or oHio FEED v:lVlIlCANSM FOR GAS PRODUCERS ifkppleation'ifledV August 1, 1927. Serial No. 209,769.

VThis invention relates to improvements in feed mechanisms such, for example as fuel feeders lfor gas producers and the like, that is, mechanisms for feeding' fuel at a regular stated rate onto the bed of fuel in the pro- -ducer body, while preventing` the escape of gas. l The present invention is in certain re` 'motion'. Thecomplete rotation of the cam,

` of course, represents one', full cycle, that is,

vthe opening and closing of one-.valve and the later opening and closing of the other valve.V

Gonsequ'ently, thatportion of the cam Vwhich lowers and raises the valves is necessarily rather small in angular dimensions and the lifting' and descentI sides are rather steep.A

1 1.,* .,r 1,. Each valve is heid closed by a Weigat anc tiis weight must be moved by the cam. As' the folloiver moves down' from the high spot of the cam on the descent side thereof,- vthe tendency of the Weight is to move the cam ahead 4 and thus close the valve ysooner than is desire l. ln order' to overcome this tendenc special paiv'l n'rechanisms have been resorted to.'

One of the objects of the present invention -is the provision of means for balancing the action ofthe cam drive for feeders of the type described to prevent such overrunning,` of the Cttln.

Another object is the provision of mear 'for'cansing a balancingwveight not only to prevent overrunniug ofthe cam as the valve weights descend but also toV assist the cam in raisin the' valve Weights when the valves are v opened. VIn this manner the power required to lift the balancing Weight is reduced.l

' A vfurther object of the invention is the provision ofmeans-for effectively closing' at all times the opening' iny the feed chamber through which the valve operating lever extends.

Still another object the provision of means for permitting the renewal of valve seat members Without the necessity of tearing down the entire feeding,l apparatus.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention Which, for the purposes of Jthe present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying draw`- ings, in Which- Fig. 1 is Aa side elevation of a fuel feeding apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same; y Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow, Fig. 1 1

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the double cam and triple follower mechanism employed in carrying out the invention; and

Fig.V 5 is a vertical sectional 'view talrcn substantially on the line 5 5, Fig. 1, showing means for freeing the valve-seat inenn bers. w

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views.

In the drai'vings, the fuel feeding apparatus is provided with a base 10 which is designed to be secured to the cover of a gas producerover an opening in the same. Such cover and the producer body are generally relatively rotatable so that the fuel as fed down by the feeding,` apparatus may be distributed over the fuel bed. The base inember is preferably integral with a casing section 11. Above the section 11 and secured thereto by bolts 12 is a second casing section 13, While athird section 14 is supported upon the section 1B and secured thereto by bolts 15.

The section 11 is provided with removable plates 16 through which access to the casing may be had foryinspection or repair. Similar removable plates 17 and 18 are provided for the sections 13 and 14, respectively. A shield 19 is movable vertically behind pins 8, which are mounted in base 10. Behind this shield the casing is provided with a horizontalv slot 20. The latter is sealed normally with' sand. l/Vhen it becomes desirable to shut olii the feeding apparatus from the producer body, as when repairs are to be made,

the shield 19 is lifted and a plate, indicated ing the casing section 11 Land the valve seat above it, an open chamber 22 may bey pro'- vided for the reception of cooling water.

Between the sections 11 and 13 and also between thek vsections13 and 14 arek located4 valve seat members 23 and 24 which are flat heavy plates that may be slid into or out of operative position after bolts'12andi15 have been removed. :Set screws a, Figs. 1

and 5, are threadably mounted in laterally projecting portions ofthe casing sections 13 and 14 and are adapted toengage portions of the sections nextbelow. `lllienthese set screws are turned down the spacesoccupied 4by the plates 23 and l24 are enlarged. These plates may `then betaken out and new onesinserted.

rlhe plates 23 `and 24 have circular openings along the periphery of which are formed valve Vseats 25 and 26,V respectively. The

`casing members 13 and 14 are each shaped at their lowerends like hoppers so as to direct the descending fuel into the openings bounded by the valve seats 25 and 26. i f

Cooperating withthe valve seats 25 and 26 are valve membersfin the form of bells 27 and 28. rlhese bellshave integral perforated suspending vlugs 29 through whiclrextend pins 30, the ends of the, pins resting in links 31 that are in turn suspended from pinsV 32 fixed in the ends of valve operating levers 'and 34.`Both of the pins 30 andr 32 for each bell are .positioned in the slot of the` correspondinglink 31, and owing to the fact that there is a loose lit betweenthelink 31 and the legs 29,A thev piny 30 is free to'move to a certainextent with respect to the link 31 in a plane vat right angles to the link.` The bells 27 and 28 thus have substantially universal mountings which is of advantage .in enabling them tol properly find their seats 'when the levers 33 and 34 are raised.

Y The upper end of casing. section 14 is offset somewhat to one sideasshown vin Figs. 1 and 2, and is provided in that part of its extent with two parallel walls 35 and 36and a con-y nectingy wall 37 lwhich is formed like a segment of a cylinder. On the outer sides of the walls 35 and 36, and preferably integral therewith, there are bearing bosses 38 and 39 in which l mount a shaft 40. The latter carries a vane wheel 41 having aseries of vanes 42, preferably provided withretaining lingers`43, which delay the dumping of the fuel carried by the varies, andV cause thefeed of fuel to the chamber above bell 28 to be more orless steady, that is during vthe actual movenient. of the wheel. The casing is provided l with an inlet 44 whichl is to be constantly filled with fuel and which isfodset from the shaft topan extent -such thatthe, angle of repose of the fuel will always cause thetop surface of the fuel to engage Vthe wheel, whereA by no fuel can enter the upper bell chamber ei'igage one Vorrnore p'awls47'pivotally mount- .Y

ed upon aplate 48 which has aloose bearing on the shaft 40. A portion only of the ratchet wheel 46 is indicated in Fig. 2. This plate is oscillated back and forth by a link '49 pivcted to the plate at 50. The lower end of link 49 is bifurcated, as showny at 51 in Fig. 3, to

iiected by a pin 53. Nut v52 runs upon a screw 54 which has smooth portions freely'rotatable in. t-he ends of a yoke 55 which 'hasa loose lstraddle a nut 52 to which itis pivotally con-f i' bearing upon a shaft 56. Y The screw54 may l be rotated in itsbearings in the yoke 55 by:

means of a' wheel 57 having a crank 58 or any` other suitable handle, such rotation servi-ng .Y

to move the nut 52 along the screw 54 and thus to varythe throw of the link 49 and consequent-ly the number of Lteeth in the ratchet Wheel'46 over which the pawls 47 move for each return stroke.

Y Oscillating movement isimparted to yokey ,l 5,5 by a link 59, pivoted tothe yoke'at 61; y

fit its lower end this link is pivotally connected to a bifurcated arm 62`by means of a` pin 63. The larm 62 is fixed upon a shaft 64 mounted to rock in bearings 65, 66y and 66. The shaft 64 has a lever arm 67 keyed thereto, through which oscillating motion isA imparted to the shaft by a reciprocatingrod 68, 69 hav# ing a bifurcatedpend 70 which straddles arm 67 and is pivotally connected thereto 'by l 1 /1 means or pin rl. Theron `68, o9 may be ieciprocated by any suitable power means.

Referring now to the means for actuating the valves 27and 28, these valves, as previousi ly stated, are hung from lever arms 33 and 34, respectively. rllfhese arms efr-tend through rectangular openings 72 and 73 in correspondl ing side walls of the casing'fsections 13 and 14.

The hubs of the levers'33 and 34 are'lat sided Vertical sectors -74 and 75 which lit fairly closely the sides of the openings 72 andt73. The curved forward faces l.of these sectors move in close relation always to the top and bottom edgesbf the openings7 2 and 73, and hence fuel is quite effectively prevented from working out through the said openings. rlhe hubs ofthe lever arms'33 and 34 have squared openings to lit squared portions of a rock shaft 76 and the rock shaft 56 previouslyreferred to. n j v rl`hese two shafts are mounted in projecting portions 77 and 78 of a casting 7 which is machined on itsrear face tov fit machinedsurn ing through holes in the casting and threaded into tapped openings in the casing. Hence, the casting 79 becomes in a sense a Y partof the casing, preventing the escape of gas by way of the openings 72 and 73 and at the same time constituting a mounting for the variousv working e parts of the apparatus, whereby the mechanism may be assembled vconveniently upon the casting 79 and then mounted'upon the casing as a unit. Rigidly secured to the shafts 76 and 56 are a pair of weights 81 and 82 of asize sufficient to overbalance the bells 27 and 28, respectively, with their supporting connections, these weights therefore tending always to raise the bells and hold them in closed position.

The casting 79 carries a shaft 83 upon which is fixed a ratchet wheel 84. Upon opposite sides of the latter a pair of pawl carrying plates 85 are mounted to have loose movement upon the shaft 83. These two plates are joined at the bottom by a bolt 86 running through a suitable spacer and at the top by bolts-87 and 88, the first of which forms a pivl votal,mounting-'for apawl89 andthe second of which forms a pivotal'mounting for the upperend of an operating link90which is pivotally connected at its-lower end by a pin 91to the bifurcated arm 62 previously described. g Gbviously, reciprocation of the link 90 produces oscillation of the plates 85 which acts through pawl 89 to impart step by step rotation to the shaft 83 in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 2. On theshaft 83 there is keyed a sleeve 92, integral with which is a cam 93 having one high spot, and a secondcam 94 having two low spots, rone 'dia- ,metrically opposite the other.

A bifurcated lever 95 is loosely mounted on ashaft-96 supported in brackets on the cast- Vving 7 9.* Afellower 97 is mounted between the bifurcations of the lever 95 and runs upon the face of the cam 94. The upper end of the lever carries a trunnion 98 in which there is a cross perforation thatreceives with ai sliding fit a pin 99 having an eye 100 surrounding a pin 101 mounted ina crank arm 102 that is 1n- 'V tegral witha counter-balance weight 103, the

latter having a loose bearing on shaft 56. The Vdistance between pin 101 and trunnion 98 is adjustable, a coil spring 104 tending to separate these parts and a nut 105 when turned V:upon the threaded end ofpin 99 tending to bring them together. y It will beV seen that as the follower 96 moves outwardly and inwardly in response to the movements of cam 94, the lever connections described will cause counter-balance weight 103 to move upwardly and downwardly.

A bifurcated lever 106, very similar in construction to the lever 95, is also journaled on the shaft 96 and carries a follower 107 running on the face of cam 93. The upper end of lever 1064is connected to weight 82 in identibracket 108 in which is mounted the pivot 109 of a lever 110 similar to the levers 95 and 106 and carrying a follower 111 which also runs upon the cam 93. The lower or swinging end of the lever 110 is connected through trunnion 112, pin 113, spring 114, adjusting nut 115 and eye 116 to a pin 117 in a crank arm 118integral with weight 81 which, as previously stated, is fixed yto shaft 76.

The levers 33 and 34 are preferably formed with knife edges on the upper sides in order to prevent the lodgment of coal or tar thereon.

r1`he link 59, 60 and the reciprocating rod 68, 69 are made in two parts as shown, so that when a load greater than what may be determined pon as a safe load is impressed upon this link or rod, there may be relative motion between its parts. To this end l mount a shear pin 119 in aligning holes in the two parts of the link 59, 60. r1`he upper end of the part 60 projects into the space between the bifurcations of the part 59 and carries a laterally extending head 129 in which is threaded an adjustable stop 121 which may be locked in any adjusted position by means of a wing nut 122. The stop 121 may be adjusted so as to bear against a projection 123 on'the part 59 of the link, whereby any looseness that might result from an inaccurate fit of the shear pin may be taken up. should become jammed for any reason on the upward stroke of the link 59, 60, which isfthe power stroke, the shear pin 119 would be bro-ken and the part 60 would merely move up and down in the partl 59, thus preventing any possible damage to the mechanism.

There is a similar shear pin 119 between the parts of the reciprocating rod 68, 69, but as the power stroke of this rod tends to separate the two parts thereof instead of telescoping them together, as in the case of link 59, 60, the means for taking up looseness is arranged oppositely to that above dcscribed, that is to say, the adjustable stop 124 is mounted in the head of a pin 125 which isset into the part 69, and the sto-p 124 is made to bear against a. projecting ing 126 on to the inward stroke of the rod 68, 69. On

each opposite stroke of these parts the pawls 47 merely ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 46. Power is imparted tothe shaft however, on the outward stroke of the ron 68, 69, that is the one indicated by the arrow Now, in case the vane wheel 44r more evenly distributed.'v c

.L Us this one-eighth revolution, the weights 821 andv descentof weight 103v has helped to rodtl, G9 the pawl 89 merely moves l2?. ln this way both strokes of the rod 68, 09 arentilized as power strokes, each stroke doing a part of: the Wori required, so 4thaty power 'supply ain enahled to use .a `lower ln tollowiir-g,l the operation of ythe' valves 2?', '28, assume ythat both vaves'are closed Vnd that the land its sleeve 92 are in suoli a position that the lifting Siille'ol the about to engage the follower' cani 0S is pist Fig. Now, the next outwrc rod 68, v69 causes the ratchet the hieh spot oit cani 93 into nient with tne follower 10'? and fully opens the valve 28. At the saine time the follower 9T 'nieves frein a circular surface ot the cani 04: into one of the low spots of theA saine, thereby 'lowering the counter-balance we1 rllie wheel 84 has eight teeth. Du.

103 have inoved in opposite directions and the litt weight 82. On the next inward stroke or" tie i, f Y, a

ward to engage the next tooth of its rat-cnet 84. rlhe second forward inoveinent or rod 08, 69 caiises cam 93 to ino-ve out troni under Vfollower l0? enabling weight 82 to raise valve 28 andclose the same; On this saine stroiie theV cani 94 is turned sniliciently to carry l'ollower 9i out oit the low spot and onto; a cirey cular surface' ot the cain, thereby raising counter-balance weight 103. rlhe movement of the follower l0?" vdown the descent surface of cani 93 gives the weight 82 a leverage which tends to revolve the cani in a forward diiection'faster thanis intended or de ed. '.lhis tendency is overcome, however, hy the tact thatlthe weight 103 must be raised at the Asaine time by the travel oi" the follower 0i ont of its low yspot on cam 94.

rlhis counterha'lancing, o1V prevention ot overrunningl the valve .follower on the upward inoti el the valve is a vhighly important feature ot my invention.

On the next tivo complete reciprocations of therod $8, 69 all oi' the followers 9j?, 10i' and lll travel on circular faces oi" the two cams, and as a result the valves are not lward stroke of the rod G8, G9 and ontheiieit 'or sixth outward strokey th follower lll. leaves the high spot of cani 93 and the fol lower 97` moves out of its low spot thereby moving,` weights 8i. and l0?) in opposite or` counter-halancingl directions and closing the 'f' valve 27. 0n the seventh and eighth strokes o Sii to he revolved 'one tooth. kThis ally opposite. the spot the valves are both idle and the cycle repeats itseliloe@inningq with the ninth stroll-Ie.

The purpose oinV the voperation above de? scrihedis well known to thoseslrilledjin the vart, it being the delivery of sinall charges ot coal step by step troni casing section la intoV sectionit and later from that section down into the producer body, without opportunity f forvv a substantial .amount Voi'gas toI escape.l

Jfromr the producer;

vlt will vloe noten vthat with this corislnuc-` tion no special ratchet mechanismis'required to prevent the *overwinning of while either valve is being closed, and that the need for sncli sp cial ratchet mechanism or equivalent means. isk wholly. kavoided 'hy the provision oli a counter-weight 103 its associated parts, incliidingl the cani 9., follower 027.

@wing to the reverse taper torni of the low-i' d eifportion ot casing section ll, indicated at 130, the'nel which is discharged hy valve 2?' andwhicli is deiiected outwardly thereby,A

is ystepped and defiected inwardly, so that it de cends opening inV the producer ,top .insteadqoi' a ring as'wonld be the case were :the 130 oniitte`d. i

lil/lhile'lhavedescribedy my invention as pplied to the fuel feedmechanism of a'gas producer, itis not necessarily confined to this' f paiticniar use, and while l have shown .a pre-V ierred construction changesinayhe inadein4 the niechanisn'ieinployed Ywithout ldepa'rting` Vfrom the Aspirit and sccpeofv the invention, Having thus described iny-finvention--l claim: Y .1. ln apparatus for 'feeding material, a

and a secoiidcam interconnected with said tirs-t cani. andmoiinted to inove in-Y timed relationV therewith, Vsaid c. second cani being operatively connected with isaid counterbalance rweight andtiined toy inove said counter-balance weight' iroin high to Vloi/v position and hack aga-in whilethe said follower Inoves up the ascent side Vof said'cani and down the descent side thereof. r

2. ln apparatusV forY feeding material, a pair of valves spaced apart in the Yline et feed, weightsy tending lto close each ofthe said valves, mechanism for opening said valves alternately comprising a cani, a coun-y ter-balance weiO'ht, and' a second caininter connected withvsaid first cam and mounted" to move inv timed relation therewith, said second cani being adaptedtoinove said counter-balance weight upwardly when either orl said valve weights moves downwardly.

3. ln apparatus for feeding material, af

valve in the line of feed, a weight tending to close said valve, `means for opening saidvalve the cani' v fueljhed eveily through the ldd valve in thek line ot feed, Vmechanismv for i operatingsaid fvalve comprising' a cam and a cain follower operatively connected? with said valve, a -counter-balance.weight,

,mear/89 in opposition to said weight, said means comprising a cam with a relatively sharp de- .scent surface, and means for preventing the Vweight from transmitting motion to the cam during engagement withr said'descent surface, said means comprising a second cam operatively interconnected with said first ,surface of said rstV cam.

4. In apparatus for feeding material, a

valve in the line of feed, aweight tending to close said valve, means for opening said valve 'in opposition to the force of said l weight, said means comprising a cam with a relatively sharp descent surface, and means fory preventing the weight from transmitting motion to the'eam during engagement with said descent surface, said means comprising a second cam rigid with and movable about the same axis as said first cam, and a counterbalance weight adapted to be raised by said second cam while the first weight is being vlowered by the descent surface of said first cam.

5.` In apparatus for feeding material, a valve in the line of feed, a movable weight, means forv actuating the said valve and weight comprising a pair of interconnected cams one of which has a high spot and the other a low spot, and means for moving said valve from one cam and said weight from the other, said two means being in operative relation with said two spots simultaneously whereby the load of the weight tends to check the closing movement of the valve and assist its opening movement.

'6. In apparatus for feeding material, a valve in the line of feed, a movable weight, means for actuating said valve and weight comprising a pair of interconnected cams, each cam having a circular portion and one cam having a .high spot and the other a low spot, the angular distance from each spot to the circle of that'cam being the same, and means for moving said valve from one cam and said weight from the other, said two means'being in operative relation with said two spots simultaneously, whereby the load of the weight tends to check the closing movement of the valve and' assist its opening movement. f

7. InV apparatus for feeding material., a pair of separated valves in the line of feed, a movable weight, means for actuating said valves and weight comprising a pair of interconnected cams, the first cam having a circular portion and a high spot and the second cam having circular portions and two low spots, and means forinoving said valves from said first cam and said weight from said second cam, said means being in operative relation with the high spot and one low spotsimultaneously and with thehigh spot and the other low spot simultaneously.A

8. In a device of the class described, two feeders working intermittently, separate ratchet mechanisms for operating said feeders, and a reciprocating element having connections for actuating one'ofthe said ratchet mechanisms when moved in one direction and for actuating the other of said mechanisms when moving in the opposite direction.

. 9. In an apparatus for feeding material, a chamber, a valve adapted to seat in the bottom of the chamber, a horizontal rock shaft located outside said chamber, a rock arm carriedbysaid shaft for actuating said valve extending through an opening in one side wall of said chamber, said arm carrying a member adapted to close said opening in all positionsof the arm. 'y

10. In a fuel feed for gas producers, a base anda casing spaced apart vertically, a bottom member for the casing having a valve seat therein, said bottom member being interposed between the base and the casing and normally supporting the casing, and means forraising the casing temporarily and supporting'it from said base independently of said bottom member, whereby the bottom member may be slid out of position for repair or replacement.

1l. In a fuel feed for gas producers, a base and a casing spaced apart vertically, a bottom member for the casing having an opening therethrough surrounded by a valve seat, said bottom member being interposed between the base and the casing and normally supporting the casing, a bell-valve adapted to engage said seat when in its uppermost position, operating means for said valve attached to the same from above, said means being disconnectible, and means for raising the casing temporarily and supporting it from said base independently of said bottom member, whereby the bottom member may be slid out of position for repair or replacement.

l2. In apparatus for feeding material, a valve in the line of feed, a cam for actuating said valve, a ratchet connection for rotating `said cam, a follower for said cam connected with ysaid valve, and means for impressing a reverse torque upon said cam as said follower travels down the descent side of the cam, whereby overrunning of the cam Vis prevented. y

18. In apparatus for feeding material, a valve in the line of feed, means tending to close said valve, a cam and follower for opening said valve in opposition to said means, a ratchet connection for rotating said cam and means for applying a rotating force to the cam to prevent the follower from causing the cam to overrun while the valve is being closed.

14. In apparatus for feeding material, a valve in the line of feed, a counter-weight Vvie tending to close said valve, means compriss ling a cam and a followerfor openingthe valve Vand velevating the counter-weight, a ratchetconnection vfor rotating said cam and means Vfor applying a turning' force to the cam. or its shaft to restrain the movement of the counte`r-weiglit in" closing the valve. f

15.; inrv a feedmechanism, a valve, a seat therefor, a counter-weight connected to the valve; tending vto hold the same against its seat, afbalancmg counter-weight, and a pair of interconnected cams, one serving to raise said valve weight so as to open the valve and serving to permit the lowering of the weight to close the valve,said second cam serving to permit the balancing counter-weight to be lowered whilek the valve weight is being elevated and to elevate the balancing counterweight while the valve weight is descending.

16. In a fuel feed for gas producers, a casingbuilt in twosuperposedv sections, a valve'- seat member interposed between said sections and normally bearing the weight of the upper section, said sections having superposed portions extending laterally beyond said valveseat member, said portions beingvadapted to receive means for spreading the sections.

17. Ina fuel feed for gas producers, a casing built in two superposed sections, a valveseat member interposed between said sections and normally bearing the weight of the upper section, saidsections having superposed portions ex'tending laterallybeyond saidvalveseat member and a relieving screw threaded into one of said portions and adapted to bear upon the other. Y Y

18. In a fuel feed for gas producers, a base and a casingV spaced apart vertically, a bottom member for the casing interposedV bef tween the base andthe casing and normally supporting the casing, and screws associatedwith said base and'casing outside of said bottom member for raising and supporting the Vcasing independently of the bottom member, whereby the bottom member may bey slid out of position for repair or replacement.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature. c JOHN F. ROGERS. 

